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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
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Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : CR EIC 111/2/12/1

29 March 2005

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 103/2005

US : Suspension of Importation of Wooden Craft Items from the Mainland of China

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the US Department of Agriculture has announced that it will suspend the importation of craft items from the Mainland of China that contain wooden logs, limbs, branches, or twigs greater than 1 centimetre in diameter and with intact bark arriving in the US after 1 April 2005. A copy of the fact sheet on the subject issued by APHIS is appended (pdf format) for reference.

DETAILS

  1. APHIS stated that the suspension of importation of the above-mentioned wooden craft items is due to their potential to introduce wood-boring quarantine pests into the US. Manufactured wood items that have been heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide and have had 100% of the bark removed are not subject to import suspension. The regulatory provisions that specify the appropriate treatments for wood and wood products can be found in 7 CFR 319.40-7(c) through (f)(http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid="2ed1b3489b0ca4845c7c4d14fc4ba4a2&rgn=div8&view=text&node=7:5.1.1.1.6.7.49.7
    &idno=7).
  1. This suspension does not apply to wooden craft items produced in and exported from Hong Kong. However, the suspension applies when the origin of the wood used to manufacture wooden craft items, which fall within the regulated category, is the Mainland of China, or when the wooden craft items are produced in and exported from the Mainland of China to the US via Hong Kong. Prior to this suspension taking effect, shipments of manufactured wood items imported from the Mainland of China will be inspected at the port of entry and if live insects are intercepted, the shipment will be refused entry.

ENQUIRIES

  1. The Department will keep the trade informed of any further development of the subject matter. For further information of the measure, please contact the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department at 2150 7000. For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at 2398 5682.




Yours faithfully,



(Amanda Kwong)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry



Note : While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.